Behaviour of lost packages

Dependent on their content and construction, lost packages can float, sink, and remain semi-submerged, or suspended in a mid-water location.

Floating packages will behave similar to floating substances in terms of movement by the current and the wind, but as the substance is contained in the package concentrations will not decrease due to the processes affecting released substances. Eventually floating packages will arrive somewhere on the coast

Sinking packages immediately move to the sea bottom where they remain until recovered.

Packages which are float semi submerged will move with the sea currents to eventually reach the coast or an area of decreased water depth Where it will ground on the shore or in shallow water respectively.

The behaviours mentioned above are based on the assumption that the package stays intact. Failure of the package due to corrosion, abrasion or water-damage will result in spillage of the material.